Acquired changes in stomatal characteristics in response to ozone during plant growth and leaf development of bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) indicate phenotypic plasticity

Bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) lines 'S156' (O3-sensitive)/'R123' (O3-tolerant) and cultivars 'BBL 290' (O3-sensitive)/'BBL 274' (O3-tolerant) were used to study the effects of O3 on stomatal conductance (gs), density, and aperture size on leaf and pod surfaces with the objective of establishing links between the degree of plant sensitivity to O3 and plasticity of stomatal properties in response to O3. Studies in open-top chambers (OTCs) and in continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) established a clear relationship between plant developmental stages, degrees of O3 sensitivity and gs: while 'S156' had higher gs rates than 'R123' earlier in development, similar differences between 'BBL 290' and 'BBL 274' were observed at later stages. Gs rates on the abaxial leaf surfaces of 'S156' and 'BBL 290', accompanied by low leaf temperatures, were significantly higher than their O3-tolerant counterparts. Exposure to O3 in CSTRs had greater and more consistent impacts on both stomatal densities and aperture sizes of O3-sensitive cultivars. Stomatal densities were highest on the abaxial leaf surfaces of 'S156' and 'BBL 290' at higher O3 concentrations (60 ppb), but the largest aperture sizes were recorded on the adaxial leaf surfaces at moderate O3 concentrations (30 ppb). Exposure to O3 eliminated aperture size differences on the adaxial leaf surfaces between sensitive and tolerant cultivars. Regardless of sensitivity to O3 and treatment regimes, the smallest aperture sizes and highest stomatal densities were found on the abaxial leaf surface. Our studies showed that O3 has the potential to affect stomatal plasticity and confirmed the presence of different control mechanisms for stomatal development on each leaf surface. This appeared to be more evident in O3-sensitive cultivars.     

Differentiated phenotypic plasticity in larvae of the cannibalistic salamander Hynobius retardatus

Alternative phenotypes in natural populations can arise from either genetic polymorphism or an environmentally induced phenotype, that is, polyphenism. Evolutionary models of polyphenism developed by theoretical studies predict that polyphenism is favored when there are environment-dependent fitness trade-offs between alternatives and that the threshold frequency for a facultative switch between alternative phenotypes is adjusted in accordance with different selection regimes. The broad-headed (alternative) larval morph of Hynobius retardatus, which is induced by crowding with conspecifics or heterospecific anuran (Rana pirica) larvae, is a representative example of cannibalistic polyphenism. Morph induction by such proximate factors must reflect evolutionary (conditional frequency-dependent) processes. To clarify the role of frequency-dependent processes in polyphenism, I investigated the occurrence rate of the broad-headed morph under experimental crowding conditions (low conspecific, high conspecific, and high heterospecific densities) using larvae from eight natural populations with different larval densities of conspecifics and heterospecifics, and found interpopulational differences in the expression of the morph. Thus, there is a larval density-dependent equilibrium frequency of the morph in each pond, suggesting that the local switch point for morph induction was modified by selection to produce evolved differences between ponds. The evolution of such interpond differences has three necessary conditions: (1) There are pond-dependent fitness trade-offs between alternatives, (2) The maintenance of the morph is costly, and (3) The presence of conspecific or, especially, heterospecific larvae provides a reliable cue to the receiver.     

Sperm traits in the quacking frog (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Crinia georgiana</Emphasis>), a species with plastic alternative mating tactics

In species where males use alternative reproductive tactics and male phenotypes are confronted with different risks of sperm competition, theory predicts that between-male-type differences in sperm expenditure may evolve. In the frog Crinia georgiana big males can monopolize females, whereas small males often engage in polyandrous matings. Consequently, big males may experience a lower risk of sperm competition than do small males. We tested if the predictions from theoretical models can be applied to the mating system of C. georgiana. Our results showed that small males do not have larger testes relative to their body size compared to their larger counterparts and that the efficiency with which sperm number, size, motility, and longevity are produced by the testes does not differ between small and large males in the predicted way. These results are not in alignment with predictions from a loaded raffle model of sperm competition on sperm expenditure in males with alternative phenotypes. The plasticity in mating tactics used by C. georgiana males and a high intraseasonal variation in male densities may have prevented the evolution of enhanced sperm performance in smaller males. A fair raffle in the sperm competition game played by C. georgiana males could also explain the observed patterns in sperm traits. Future investigations determining the parameters responsible for the deviation from theoretical predictions in this system will test the degree to which current theoretical models can indeed be applied to species with plastic reproductive tactics.     

Impacts of environmental heterogeneity on alternative mating tactics in the threadtail damselfly

Environmental heterogeneity, including variation in the physical environment, may be key to understanding the evolution and maintenance of alternative mating tactics, but its influence is rarely examined. Males of the threadtail damselfly Protoneura amatoria reversibly use two alternative mating tactics (perching vs. hovering) and have previously been found to modulate their use of these tactics in response to variation in both light conditions and the density of ovipositing females. Here, I show that mating success payoffs of the two tactics are differentially influenced by these factors. The payoff of the perching tactic was greater than that of the hovering tactic under low light conditions and at low densities of ovipositing females. The payoff of the hovering tactic was greater under high light conditions and higher densities of ovipositing females. The differential success of the two mating tactics in response to light conditions is discussed in light of flight dynamics, vision, and predation.     

Metribuzin impairs the unicell-colony transformation in the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus

Active growth is a prerequisite for the formation of grazing-protective, mostly eight-celled colonies by the ubiquitous green alga Scenedesmus in response to chemical cues from zooplankton. Colonies can also be evoked by chemically quite similar manmade anionic surfactants, such as FFD-6. In this study, it was hypothesized that growth-inhibiting concentrations of the herbicide metribuzin impair the ability of Scenedesmus obliquus to form colonies in response to the surfactant morphogen FFD-6. The results confirmed that the formation of colonies in S. obliquus was hampered by metribuzin. EC₅₀ values of metribuzin for colony inhibition (approximately 11 μg L⁻¹) were similar to those for growth and photosynthesis inhibition (12-25 μg metribuzin L⁻¹). In the absence of the colony-inducing surfactant FFD-6, S. obliquus populations were comprised of 92% unicells, having on average 1.2 cells per colony at all tested metribuzin concentrations (0-100 μg L⁻¹). In contrast, in the presence of FFD-6 and at low metribuzin concentrations (0 and 5 μg L⁻¹), S. obliquus had more than five cells per colony with a high portion of eight-celled colonies. However, increasing concentrations of metribuzin decreased the number of colonies in the FFD-6-exposed populations and caused them to remain mostly unicellular at the highest concentrations (50 and 100 μg L⁻¹). This study revealed that metribuzin impeded growth and by doing so, also obstructed the possibility for unicellular Scenedesmus to form colonies. Consequently, an increase in mortality of Scenedesmus from grazing is expected.     

贵阳城市污水处理厂污泥生产轻质陶粒的研究

贵阳市小河污水处理厂以机械脱水污泥为原料,配以页岩、少量锯末及玻璃粉,摸拟贵州坤泰建材工贸有限公司粘土陶粒厂生产工艺,经练泥搅拌、挤压成球、预热焙烧（焙烧温度1050℃并保温30min）等各生产工序,成功生产出不同密度等级的普通轻质陶粒。     

基于双剪屈服条件的输油管道腐蚀剩余强度可靠性研究

提出基于双剪屈服塑性极限条件的管道可靠性爆破压力可靠度模型,在基于剩余强度可靠性理论基础上,着重分析随机参数,即腐蚀深度、腐蚀长度和运行压力的分布情况,通过经典可靠性计算方法、JC法将非正态分布转化成标准正态分布,从而建立起基于双剪屈服条件的管道腐蚀可靠性计算模型。通过提取现场实验数据进行验算,其结果表明:双剪屈服强度理论算得的爆破压力更接近实验结果,该方法降低API579的保守性,大大提高了可靠性的计算精度。     

参数对2A12铝合金微动疲劳局部塑性影响分析

目的研究局部塑性对微动疲劳的影响。方法建立2A12铝合金圆柱/平面微动疲劳有限元模型,考虑塑性作用进行有限元分析,研究微动疲劳参数对局部塑性的影响。结果局部塑性变形发生在试件表面或次表面,最大等效塑性变形随着微动垫半径的减小而增大。随着轴向应力的增加,最大切向应力增加;随着摩擦系数的增加,剪应力的最大值急剧增加,粘着区增加,滑移区减小,但摩擦系数对整个接触区的大小没有影响。结论微动疲劳参数对局部塑性有一定的影响。     

胚胎期及哺乳期全氟辛烷磺酸盐(PFOS)暴露对大鼠长时程突触可塑性影响的miRNA组学研究

为探讨PFOS胚胎期及哺乳期暴露对动物子代学习记忆能力影响的分子机理,采用微小RNA(miRNA)芯片技术检测PFOS胚胎期及哺乳期暴露对出生第1和7天大鼠脑组织miRNA表达的影响,分析突触可塑性相关miRNA表达的差异变化。结果显示,经PFOS暴露后出生第1和7天的大鼠脑组织中分别有24和17个miRNA发生显著性差异表达(p<0.05),其中与突触传递和神经递质转运等相关的miRNA的差异表达最为显著,主要包括miR-466b、miR-672、miR-297、miR-674-3p和miR-207。差异表达miRNA的路径分析显示出生后1和7d的大鼠的长时程增强效应(LTP)均受PFOS显著影响(p<0.05),这说明PFOS胚胎期及哺乳期暴露可能通过影响LTP的形成、发展和维持过程对大鼠子代大脑学习记忆能力造成威胁,并且miR-466b、miR-672、miR-297、miR-674-3p和miR-207可能参与了其中的调控过程。     

土壤水分对外来入侵植物五爪金龙植株表型可塑性和化感作用的影响

外来入侵植物五爪金龙（Ipomoea cairica）对华南地区的生态环境造成严重危害,表型可塑性可增强外来物种的入侵能力。本文通过盆栽试验研究土壤含水量为10%、20%和30%对外来入侵植物五爪金龙种子萌发、植株表型可塑性和化感作用的影响,探讨五爪金龙对土壤水分变化的响应机理,为进一步了解五爪金龙的入侵机理和提高对入侵种的预警和控制能力提供理论依据。结果表明,（1）在土壤含水量为10%,20%和30%条件下,五爪金龙种子的萌发率分别为15.2%、36.4%和33.6%。五爪金龙种子的萌发率随土壤含水量的增加而增加,尤其是在土壤含水量为30%时,五爪金龙种子萌发率最高。（2）土壤含水量为10%、20%和30%时,五爪金龙植株的总生物量分别为0.88、2.26和2.42 g。与土壤含水量为10%相比,土壤含水量为20%和30%条件下五爪金龙的总生物量分别增加了156.8%和175.0%,表明土壤水分增加显著增加了五爪金龙的总生物量。土壤含水量增加显著增加了五爪金龙的叶面积、叶生物量比、比叶面积和茎长,同时减少了根生物量比和根冠比,而对茎生物量比无显著影响。（3）相同浓度的五爪金龙水浸提液对受体植物莴苣（Lactuca sativa）和萝卜（Raphanus sativus）根长和苗高生长的化感抑制作用随着土壤含水量的减少而增强。研究表明：五爪金龙通过改变生物量分配模式和化感潜力对土壤水分变化有一定的适应能力。